NOAA Proposes Listing 66 Reef-building Coral Species
under the Endangered Species Act
NOAA Fisheries is proposing Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings for 66 coral species: 59 in the Pacific and 7 in the Caribbean.
· In the Pacific, 7 species are proposed as endangered and 52 as threatened.
· In the Caribbean, 5 are proposed as endangered and 2 as threatened.
In addition, we are proposing that 2 Caribbean species—elkhorn and staghorn corals—already listed under the ESA be reclassified from threatened to endangered.
All of these species are now considered "Proposed Species" under the ESA.
We will make a final determination as to whether any of the species warrant listing as threatened or endangered by November 30, 2013.
For more information on the Atlantic/Caribbean coral species please contact the Southeast Region